Podcasts hosted by professional athletes explained

Professional athletes have a documented history of going into the sports media industry after they retire from their playing careers. In the mid-to-late 2010s, there were a growing amount of instances of players pursuing media ventures even during their playing careers. Often times, athletes utilize the podcast medium to disseminate their media output, with these podcasts covering the athletes' respective sport.

History

A. J. Hawk has been cited as the first active professional athlete to begin podcasting, having launched his Hawk Cast in 2014.[1] [2] JJ Redick was the first NBA player to launch a podcast while still an active player, hosting The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports in 2016. After punter Pat McAfee retired from the National Football League (NFL) in 2016, he launched his own eponymous show; it has been credited with "paving the way for fellow athletes to pursue a media career upon retirement".[3]

In the 2020s, the rise in players issuing statements or producing content through their own media ventures was dubbed the "new media" by National Basketball Association (NBA) player Draymond Green.[4] Players have been noted to invite and interview fellow players on their podcasts.[5] Sometimes, these podcasts are co-hosted by friends of the players who did not have professional sport careers.[6]

Reception

Reception of the podcasts vary from podcast to podcast, though media writers have also written about the broad concept and its increased prominence over the years. Writing about the increase of NBA players launching podcasts and other media pursuits, Alex Siquig of GQ stated "there's a sweetness to this sort of access. It's an unlocked door to brawny, garrulous NBA tenderness. Players talking through COVID with grace and honest introspection has been a boon, even when the topics veer from the sacred to the profane, from brilliance to bullshit."[7]

The New York Times writer Jeremy Gordon commented that "the premise of so many athlete-run podcasts" involves how the podcasts "demystify what these people do, allowing talented figures to break down their talent-utilization processes", citing examples including "Draymond [Green]'s, or The Old Man and the Three (in which the former NBA player JJ Redick and co-host Tommy Alter trade stories and discuss the modern league), or All the Smoke (the former NBA journeymen Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson trade stories and discuss the modern league), or I Am Athlete (the former NFL receivers Brandon Marshall and Chad Johnson trade stories and discuss the modern league).[8] Gordon criticized this concept, writing "But the demystification process can, at times, be too thorough", and adding that "it turns out to be deeply enervating to hear these athletes talk about [sports]".[8]

List of podcasts hosted by professional athletes

American football players

Denotes player was retired when podcast debuted ❧
Denotes non-professional athlete co-host ‡
Podcast Host(s) Debuted Ref.
The Hawk Cast 2014
Club Shay Shay Shannon Sharpe ❧ September 22, 2020 [9]
The Pivot Podcast Ryan Clark ❧
Channing Crowder ❧
Fred Taylor ❧		January 4, 2022 [10] [11]
New Heights September 8, 2022
The Edge September 11, 2023 [12] [13]
Nightcap Shannon Sharpe ❧
Chad Johnson ❧
Gilbert Arenas ❧ 		September 11, 2023 [14] [15]
4th & 1 September 13, 2023 [16] [17]

Athletics competitors

Denotes player was retired when podcast debuted ❧
Denotes non-professional athlete co-host ‡
Podcast Host(s) Debuted Ref.
MarathonTalk Deena Kastor
Martin Yelling ‡ 		January 2010 [18] [19]
Showrunners June 2019 [20]
Sit & Kick January 2020 [21] [22]
Coffee Club Podcast 2021 [23]
Unconventional Voices of Track & Field May 2021 [24]
Running Things Donovan Bailey ❧
Jason Portuondo ‡ 		July 2021 [25]
Lactic Acid October 2021 [26] [27]
Out of the Blocks Jasmine Todd ❧
Katelyn Hutchinson ‡ 		January 2022 [28]
Nobody Asked Us Des Linden
Kara Goucher ❧ 		January 2023 [29]
Ready Set Go Justin Gatlin ❧
Rodney Green ❧ 		January 2023 [30]
Running: State of the Sport Amby Burfoot ❧
George Hirsch ❧ 		August 2023 [31]

Basketball players

Denotes player was retired when podcast debuted ❧
Denotes non-professional athlete co-host ‡
Podcast Host(s) Debuted Ref.
The Vertical Podcast February 1, 2016 [32] [33]
Road Trippin Channing Frye
Richard Jefferson
Allie Clifton ‡ 		January 17, 2017 [34] [35]
The Chronicles of Redick July 19, 2017 [36]
The JJ Redick Podcast with Tommy Alter JJ Redick
Tommy Alter ‡ 		November 29, 2017 [37] [38]
Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles Quentin Richardson ❧
Darius Miles ❧ 		February 19, 2019 [39]
All The Smoke Matt Barnes ❧
Stephen Jackson ❧ 		October 21, 2019 [40] [41]
The Old Man and the Three JJ Redick
Tommy Alter ‡ 		August 5, 2020 [42]
The ETCsKevin DurantMay 16, 2021(Citation needed for date)
Curious Mike July 20, 2021 [43] [44]
The Draymond Green Show November 17, 2021 [45] [46]
KG CertifiedKevin GarnettPaul PierceJanuary 18, 2022[47] (Citation needed for date)
The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone Patrick Beverley
Adam Ferrone ‡ 		October 11, 2022 [48] [49]
Club 520 Jeff Teague ❧
DJ Wells ‡
Bishop B Henn ‡ 		January 31, 2023 [50] [51]
Podcast P with Paul George Paul George
Jackie Long ‡
Dallas Rutherford ‡		March 6, 2023 [52] [53]
From the Point June 1, 2023
The OGs Udonis Haslem ❧
Mike Miller ❧ 		December 19, 2023 [54] [55]
The Big Podcast with Shaq Shaquille O'Neal ❧
Adam Lefkoe ‡ 		December 21, 2023 [56] [57]
Roommates Show February 8, 2024 [58] [59]
The Underground Lounge Lou Williams ❧
Spank Horton ‡ 		February 14, 2024 [60]
Mind the Game LeBron James
JJ Redick ❧		March 19, 2024 [61]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Podcast Era For Athletes Has Started And J.J. Redick Is First To Create A Louder Voice. Sports Business Journal. January 27, 2016. May 26, 2024. subscription.
  2. Web site: Owczarski. Jim. A.J. Hawk preps for post-NFL career as podcast grows. The Cincinnati Enquirer. June 2, 2016. May 26, 2024.
  3. Book: Ratts. Tyler. Benedek. Jonathan J.. Pedersen. Paul M.. Encyclopedia of Sport Management. 362–363. Edward Elgar Publishing. December 14, 2021. 9781800883284 . May 26, 2024.
  4. Web site: Buckhalter. Joshua. Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young reveals 'From The Point' podcast launch date. Soaring Down South. May 31, 2023. April 26, 2024.
  5. Web site: Former NBA 2nd Overall Pick Will Miss The Entire Season . Sports Illustrated. August 21, 2023. April 26, 2024.
  6. Web site: Murray. Law. Paul George and his podcast with friends meshes chemistry, cohesion and comedy. The Athletic. July 24, 2023. April 26, 2024.
  7. Web site: Siquig. Alex. NBA Players Are Creating a Lot of Content. Which Is the Best?. GQ. July 29, 2020. May 25, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230608182934/https://www.gq.com/story/nba-youtube-and-podcast-primer. June 8, 2023. registration.
  8. Web site: Gordon. Jeremy. The Rise of the Professional-Athlete Podcast. The New York Times. July 6, 2022. July 7, 2022. May 25, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502130815/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/06/magazine/professional-athlete-podcast.html. May 2, 2024. registration.
  9. Web site: Shannon Sharpe Debuts 'Club Shay Shay' . Fox Sports. September 23, 2020. April 27, 2024.
  10. The Truth The Pivot Podcast with Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor & Ryan Clark (Series Premiere). The Pivot Podcast. YouTube. January 4, 2022. May 6, 2024.
  11. Web site: Bishop. Greg. 'Pivot Podcast' Hosts Reflect on Their Fondest Father's Day Memories. Sports Illustrated. June 16, 2023. May 6, 2024.
  12. Web site: Magliochetti. Geoff. Cowboys BREAKING: Micah Parsons To Start New Video Podcast. Sports Illustrated. September 6, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  13. Micah Parsons Reacts to Crushing Giants, Ranks NFC Contenders & Bosa's Contract The Edge Ep. 1. The Edge. Bleacher Report. YouTube. September 11, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  14. Web site: Koster. Kyle. Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson Will Host New Show Co-Produced by Shay Shay Media and The Volume. The Big Lead. September 8, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  15. Shannon Sharpe & Chad Johnson on Cowboys-Giants, 49ers-Steelers, Bengals-Browns Nightcap Week 1. Nightcap. YouTube. September 11, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  16. M¥ Ñ£₩ §₽ØRT§ §HØ₩ "4th & 1". CameronNewton. Cam Newton. 1702032300580499879. September 13, 2023. April 27, 2024.
  17. Web site: Goss. Nick. Cam Newton reveals biggest regret from his season with Patriots . NBC Sports. October 26, 2023. April 27, 2024.
  18. Web site: MarathonTalk Podcast . . 15 July 2024.
  19. Web site: Marathon Talk . Apple Podcasts . 15 July 2024.
  20. Web site: Showrunners . Citius Mag . 15 July 2024.
  21. Web site: Sit & Kick . Apple Podcasts . 15 July 2024.
  22. Web site: The Victory Lap: David Ribich . Citius Mag . 15 July 2024.
  23. Web site: COFFEE CLUB . Apple Podcasts . 15 July 2024.
  24. Web site: Unconventional Voices of Track & Field . Apple Podcasts . 15 July 2024.
  25. Web site: Donavan Bailey Running Things: The Podcast . Spotify . 15 July 2024.
  26. Web site: Lactic Acid with Dom and Laura . Spotify for Podcasters . 15 July 2024.
  27. Web site: DOMINIQUE SMITH . . 15 July 2024.
  28. Web site: Out Of The Blocks . Citius Mag . 15 July 2024.
  29. Web site: Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara . Apple Podcasts . 15 July 2024.
  30. Web site: Ready Set Go . Apple Podcasts . 15 July 2024.
  31. Web site: Running--State of the Sport . Apple Podcasts . 15 July 2024.
  32. Web site: Kavner. Rowan. Redick To Be First Active NBA Player With Weekly Podcast. NBA.com. January 28, 2016. April 24, 2024.
  33. Web site: The Chronicles of Redick on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts. May 12, 2024.
  34. Web site: Road Trippin' on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts. April 26, 2024.
  35. Web site: Gonzalez. John. This NBA Life. The Ringer. May 24, 2017. April 26, 2024.
  36. Web site: Spain. Kevin. JJ Redick: Re-signing with Clippers was not an option. USA Today. July 19, 2017. May 12, 2024.
  37. Web site: Welcome to 'The J.J. Redick Podcast'. The Ringer. November 27, 2017. May 12, 2024.
  38. Web site: Cacciola. Scott. After 100 Podcasts, JJ Redick Widens His Range. The New York Times. August 3, 2020. April 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20200803130631/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/sports/jj-redick-podcast.html. August 3, 2020.
  39. Web site: Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles. Apple Podcasts. May 25, 2024.
  40. Web site: All The Smoke on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts. April 27, 2024.
  41. Web site: Contes. Brandon. Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson Launch Digital Show. Barrett Sports Media. October 18, 2019. April 27, 2024.
  42. Web site: Healy. John. NBA Star JJ Redick Launching New Podcast 'The Old Man & The Three' . Audacy. August 4, 2020. April 27, 2024.
  43. Staying Grounded & Standing Firm In Your Convictions ft. Lecrae // Michael Porter Jr. . Curious Mike. YouTube. July 20, 2021. May 5, 2024.
  44. Web site: Redford. Patrick. There Are NBA Players With Interesting Podcasts, And Then There's Michael Porter Jr.. Defector. April 29, 2024. May 5, 2024.
  45. Web site: Hayes. Dade. Golden State Warriors Star Draymond Green To Host Weekly Podcast For Colin Cowherd-IHeartMedia Network The Volume. Deadline Hollywood. November 15, 2021. April 27, 2024.
  46. Web site: The Draymond Green Show on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts. April 27, 2024.
  47. Web site: Olojede . Complex Sports, Zion . The Best NBA Player Podcasts Right Now, Ranked . 2024-06-29 . Complex . en-us.
  48. The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone: Ep 00 - I'm Not Out Here Punching People. The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone. YouTube. October 11, 2022. May 5, 2024.
  49. Web site: Nehm. Eric. Bucks guard Patrick Beverley says he has a torn ligament in his right wrist. The Athletic. March 27, 2024. May 5, 2024.
  50. Club 520 Podcast Episode 1 ft Josh Smith. January 31, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  51. Web site: Nelson. Joe. Jeff Teague tells 'what really happened' with Jimmy Butler's Timberwolves outburst. Sports Illustrated. April 27, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  52. Web site: Introducing "Podcast P with Paul George". Podcast P with Paul George. Apple Podcasts. 2023. April 26, 2024.
  53. Web site: Dye. Natasha. NBA All-Star Paul George Says He's 'Not Going to Sugarcoat Anything' on New Podcast. People. March 14, 2023. April 26, 2024.
  54. Web site: Brown. Devin. Miami Heat OG's Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem Are Starting A New Podcast. Sports Illustrated. December 15, 2023. April 27, 2024.
  55. UD Thinks Draymond Green Is "Crazy Smart" & Paolo Banchero Is An MVP?! The OGs Ep. 1. The OGs. YouTube. December 19, 2023. April 27, 2024.
  56. Web site: Weprin. Alex. Shaquille O'Neal Launching Podcast Network, Reboots His 'Big' Show. The Hollywood Reporter. December 21, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  57. Shaq Gets HEATED At A Hater, Reveals Untold Homeless Story & More Ep. 1. The Big Podcast with Shaq. YouTube. December 22, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  58. Jalen Brunson & Josh Hart React To All-Star & WILD Tweets, Reveal Untold Stories Ep. 1. Roommates Show. YouTube. February 8, 2024. April 26, 2024.
  59. Web site: Magliocchetti. Geoff. Cats Cast: Knicks Stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart Are Starting a Podcast. Sports Illustrated. February 4, 2024. April 26, 2024.
  60. Lou Williams & Spank Horton Discuss Comedy, Cash & Community In Episode 1 Of The Underground Lounge. The Underground Lounge. YouTube. February 14, 2024. May 5, 2024.
  61. Web site: Marchand. Andrew. LeBron James, JJ Redick teaming up for new basketball-centric podcast. The Athletic. March 18, 2024. April 26, 2024.

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